Muhammad Wilkerson trade to Giants seems like fantasy

New York Giants fans love to fantasize about obtaining the recently franchise-tagged Muhammad Wilkerson from the New York Jets in a blockbuster trade between the stadium-sharing rivals. The Jets would deal Wilkerson to the Giants for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft "in a nanosecond," believes NY Daily News Jets beat writer Manish Mehta.

The problem? Mehta also does not believe it is a deal the Giants would make, saying "It makes little sense to give up a Top 10 pick and eat into your cap room for Wilkerson."

I agree. In my view, a deal for Wilkerson that includes giving up the No. 10 pick in the draft and chews up roughly 25 percent of the cap space the Giants have to rebuild their talent-depleted roster is one the Giants should have zero interest in making.

I understand how good the 26-year-old Pro Bowler is. He would instantly become the best player on the Giants' defense, whether or not they keep Jason Pierre-Paul, or sign someone like Olivier Vernon or Mario Williams.

A deal like that for Wilkerson is one that you make if you believe you are a difference-maker away from being a Super Bowl contender. Riding a streak of four straight playoff-less seasons, the Giants are far from that.

The upcoming draft is considered to be rich in defensive players, particularly in defensive tackles. Some analysts have even said that there are so many good ones available that there will be second-round talent on the board in the draft's fourth round.

Rather than trade for Wilkerson, the approach that makes more sense to me is to add free agents that won't also cost you draft picks, then use that No. 10 pick to grab the best impact player on the board.